Libertarians boast they are “Pro-Choice on Everything.” The Pro-Choice Libertarians network is made up of libertarians who want to keep the government out of the abortion issue, as well as other reproductive rights issues. We consider ourselves “anti-prohibition” on the issue. We emphasize both women’s rights to control their bodies and the negative consequences of abortion prohibition. See our Principles page which details how various libertarians defend the right to abortion through applying one or more of four basic libertarian principles: individual liberty, self-ownership, self-determination and limited government. Also learn about our strategies in our Mission Statement.

Since our formation in 1987, Pro-Choice Libertarians has been active in the Libertarian Party, especially in years when abortion prohibitionists, and “moderate” libertarians trying to appeal to them, have tried to eliminate the party’s pro-choice plank. The enemies of freedom want this pro-choice libertarian position OUT of the Libertarian Party platform and OUT of the libertarian philosophy. Their primary motivation is bringing in “pro-life” conservatives who will make the Libertarian Party more conservative, and especially more supportive of foreign military interventionism.

Abortion prohibitionists themselves are fanatics who will continue to infiltrate the state and national parties and harass libertarians with the intention of removing pro-choice planks from party platforms. The end goal is to make the LP an abortion prohibitionist party. Read in our history their successful efforts to gut the Reproductive Rights plank so that it now emphasizes the concerns of anti-abortionists. The only relevant libertarian position is underlined in red.

Libertarians oppose anti-abortion legislative efforts nationwide. The Republican Party has used the abortion issue to take power in many states over the last 15 years and these states are using regulations to close abortion clinics, discouraging women seeking legal abortions, punishing women for natural miscarriages on dubious charges and even attempting to restrict abortion to the first few weeks of pregnancy, when few women even know they are pregnant.

Libertarians are part of the efforts to repeal these outrageous laws and regulations. Starting with making sure that the Libertarian Party STAYS pro-choice on everything. We must educate new libertarians – many brainwashed by the anti-choice Republican Party – as to the necessity of keeping the government out of the issue. And we must educate ex-Democrats and independent pro-choicers entering the party so they understand why libertarianism also opposes government paying for abortion. Both sides need education on the unintended consequences of any government involvement in the issue and the benefits of seeking only voluntary solutions to the problem of unwanted and/or dangerous pregnancies.

In the months before the 2018 Libertarian Party national convention in New Orleans, anti-abortionists – and those wishing to invite more conservatives into the party – again wangled their way on to the Platform Committee. Despite the lack of interest of most of the committee in removing the plank, a couple again harassed the committee to propose changes to the plank that would make it less pro-choice. This year they were less successful than in 2016 and their proposals were vetoed.

Pro-Choice libertarians again organized at the convention, with a display table in the lobby, literature, buttons and dozens of supporters of women’s abortion rights talking with the hundreds of delegates. However, anti-choice individuals – some allegedly using “deletion tokens” they solicited from others, found in the garbage or even bought – were successful in gathering enough “tokens” to put the abortion plank to an up-or-down vote before the delegates. The body quickly and decisively voted to keep the abortion plank. Pro-choicers nevertheless must remain vigilant, especially should any high profile former elected Republican anti-abortionist attempt to gain the 2020 Libertarian Party nomination for President.

3 thoughts on “Our Network”

The platform committee has several options of the abortion plank, I think you will be able to find a version that will be acceptable. I would hate to not be able to proudly wear my Pro-Choice on everything pin. If you have not seen the committees survey please contact the chair Alicia Matson.

Right on guys. The anti-choice, anti-women, anti-freedom frantics try to take over any political organization they can, be it Republican, Democratic, Tea Partyl or Libertarian. I am all on board against this.

I am fully against the removal of this plank, and will vote accordingly. I believe that this is an issue that we want to ensure is covered to some degree in our platform as opposed to leaving it completely open for debate.